2020 Title Contenders: 174 Pounds
2020 Title Contenders: 174 Pounds
Who will win an NCAA championship at 174-pounds in 2020? We take an early look at the contenders.
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Like 165, not a lot of talent graduated from this weight class, as only one of the eight 2019 All-Americans (Daniel Lewis of Missouri) has used up all of his eligibility. And like 141, a lot of what happens in March will depend on which contenders, if any, don a redshirt next season.
2020 Contenders: 125 | 133 | 141 | 149 | 157 | 165
Those available redshirts mean it's way too early to begin speculating about who is going to be in the hunt for a championship in Minneapolis, but that hasn't stopped us from doing so in any of the lighter weights, and it's not going to stop us now, either.
Zahid Valencia, Arizona State
One half of the best current rivalry in college wrestling (and perhaps ever?), Zahid, by dint of his 2017 junior silver medal, is eligible to take an Olympic redshirt. If he elects to compete, he will be the favorite to win his third NCAA title in four attempts.
Mark Hall, Penn State
The other half of the aforementioned best rivalry in college wrestling (or any sport?), Mark Hall is also eligible to take an Olympic redshirt thanks to his 2016 junior gold medal. He also has a regular redshirt to burn if he so desires. Hall won the 2017 NCAA title and been runner-up (to Zahid) the last two seasons. Mark is a co-favorite with Zahid, so whether or not they both compete will have have a huge impact on the weight class next season.
Myles Amine, Michigan
Amine has come excruciatingly close, but has so far been unable to usurp either Valencia or Hall at this weight class. He's finished fourth, third and third in his last three trips to the national tournament. If Amine is ever going to break through to the top, this has to be there year.
Michael Kemerer, Iowa
An injury kept a bulked up Michael Kemerer from flexing on the 174-pound weight class last season, but in two previous seasons as 157, Kemerer has finished third and fourth. NCAA fans of all kinds anxiously await the varsity debut of the Hawkeye Bulk Job.
David McFadden, Virginia Tech
McFadden will attempt to become the Hokies' first every four-time NCAA All-American next season. Mekhi Lewis already has the honor of being the first ever VT national champ, but I doubt he would mind the company in the record books after the 2019-20 season.
Mikey Labriola, Nebraska
A productive season of deferred eligibility in 2018 transitioned into one of the most impressive redshirt freshmen campaigns of the 2018-19 season. Labriola will look to build off his 6th place finish last season, and is in a good wrestling room in Lincoln to make those gains.
Jordan Kutler, Lehigh
Kutler did his version of the Bulk Job back in the 2017-18 season when he moved from 157 to 174. The move paid dividends for the Mountain Hawk, as he made it to the podium in each of the last two seasons.
As always, there will be disagreements as to who should or shouldn't be on this list. We tried to be inclusive of all series contenders, but if we overlooked anyone, we apologize, and hope we have inspired them to prove us fantastically wrong next March.
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